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NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Managing Money in Your Marriage and How to Build Wealth Without a Side Hustle

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

NerdWallet Personal Finance

Business, Investing, Education, How To

4.3 • 893 Ratings

🗓️ 25 December 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Learn the truth behind myths about building wealth, plus hear from a couple looking to align on  financial goals and values. Can you build wealth without starting a business? How can couples figure out what to do with extra money in their budget? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola share their “money hot takes” and then talk to a married couple about how they can better align on financial priorities. Sean and Elizabeth kick off the episode with their thoughts on how to become a millionaire without needing to own your own business and why they believe consistent investing from a 9-to-5 job can help you grow your wealth. Plus are Roth IRAs overrated? They might be when compared to Roth 401(k)s. Then, listeners Naomi and Andrew join Sean and Elizabeth to discuss how couples can align on their financial goals. They talk through how to define shared values, balance short- and long-term priorities, and decide how to use some new room in their budget wisely, including strategies for emergency funds, retirement, and kids’ future savings. NerdWallet's list of the best savings accounts: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/banking/savings-accounts  Get matched with a financial advisor by using NerdWallet Advisors Match: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/investing/financial-advisors  NerdWallet’s investment calculator will calculate how much your investments will grow based on your planned contributions, timeline, rate of return and compounding frequency: https://www.nerdwallet.com/calculator/investment-calculator  Are you on track to save enough for retirement? Use NerdWallet’s calculator to check your progress, see how much retirement income you'll have and estimate how much more you should save: https://www.nerdwallet.com/calculator/retirement-calculator  In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: how to build wealth without a business, investing from a 9 to 5 job, becoming a millionaire from salary, Roth IRA vs Roth 401k, Roth IRA contribution limits, backdoor Roth IRA, Roth 401k benefits, emergency fund recommendations, short term financial goals, good debt vs bad debt, paying off debt as a couple, managing money in a marriage, budgeting as a couple, aligning financial goals with a partner, daycare budget reallocation, how to prioritize financial goals, saving for a home addition, using home equity loan, 529 plan alternatives, taxable brokerage for kids, feeling behind on retirement, retirement planning anxiety, compound interest retirement, how to save for multiple goals, financial planning for couples, building credit as a couple, margin in budget meaning, shared financial values, and daycare cost savings. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is brought to you by SimplySafe.

0:03.9

This is the sound of feeling safe and secure at Christmas.

0:08.1

SimplySafe on.

0:09.5

Your home is ready for festivities.

0:12.0

Now check security off the list.

0:14.8

SimpliSafe's award-winning products can protect your home from break-ins,

0:18.7

fires, water leaks and more with no long-term contracts.

0:22.5

Visit simplysafe.com.uk-slash-pod for an exclusive discount.

0:30.1

Merry Christmas, happy Kwanza, happy Hanukkah, happy general holiday, happy post-sulstice,

0:37.3

to all of those who celebrate whichever

0:38.8

you want to celebrate.

0:40.0

Yes, and I celebrate anything that's worth celebrating because Merry Christmas!

0:45.3

Well, we are off enjoying the time with our families, so if you're here listening to us,

0:50.2

please enjoy this special episode from our archives.

0:53.1

And if you have time in between all the joyful things you're doing today, please send

0:57.8

us your money questions to 901-730-6373.

1:02.5

That's 901-730 Nerd.

1:05.2

We like emails to, send them to us at podcast at nerdwallet.com.

1:09.0

All right, let's get to the episode.

1:13.5

Elizabeth, are you ready to keep it real?

1:15.5

Like, really real, so real that people might be shocked by what you're saying?

1:19.5

I think that's my default, Sean.

...

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